Proudly serving Minnesota and Wisconsin - including Duluth, Minneapolis, Eau Claire and nearby areas

Wall Support in Shell Lake, WI with the PowerBrace™ System

case study

Wall Support in Shell Lake, WI with the PowerBrace™ System

A Shell Lake, WI homeowner strengthened their foundation with the PowerBrace™ Wall Repair System, restoring confidence in their home’s structural stability.

Wall Support in Shell Lake, WI | PowerBrace™ Foundation Repair

A homeowner in Shell Lake, WI recently contacted DBS after noticing concerns with their home’s foundation walls. Wanting to protect the long-term safety and value of their property, they were looking for a reliable solution that would provide lasting structural support and prevent future foundation problems.

After speaking with our Customer Care team, an inspection was scheduled with one of our experienced System Design Specialists. During the evaluation, foundation wall issues were identified that required immediate attention to preserve the home’s structural integrity.

To address the problem, we recommended the PowerBrace™ Wall Repair System, a proven foundation repair solution designed to stabilize bowing, leaning, or weakened foundation walls. The PowerBrace™ system utilizes galvanized steel beams that are securely anchored to reinforce the wall and prevent further inward movement. In many cases, the system can also be adjusted over time to help gradually improve wall alignment.

Once the repair plan was approved, our skilled production team arrived to complete the installation. Led by an experienced foreman, the crew carefully installed the PowerBrace™ system while minimizing disruption to the homeowner’s daily routine. Every step of the process was completed with attention to detail and a commitment to delivering a high-quality result.

Upon completion, the foundation walls were permanently reinforced, providing the homeowner with greater confidence in the safety and stability of their home. The property was left clean and organized, with the only visible change being a stronger and more secure foundation system.

Thanks to professional wall support in Shell Lake, WI, this homeowner now has peace of mind knowing their foundation is protected for years to come. At DBS, we are committed to providing dependable foundation repair solutions that help homeowners maintain safe, stable, and comfortable living spaces.

Stop the Damage, for Good.

What DBS Repair Uses to Stabilize Minnesota Foundations

Every Minnesota foundation problem has a permanent solution. DBS Repair uses proven, engineer-backed systems to stabilize, straighten, and restore homes from Duluth and St. Cloud to Brainerd, Baxter, Elk River, Sauk Rapids, and surrounding counties. And we back every repair with industry-leading, fully transferable warranties.

Foundation Piers:

The Permanent Fix for a Settling Foundation

The most reliable way to stop foundation settlement is to bypass weak soil entirely. DBS Repair installs steel foundation piers that transfer your home’s weight down to stable, load-bearing soil or bedrock, halting settlement permanently and often restoring the structure to its original level position.

Two pier systems we install:
Push Piers:
Hydraulically driven steel tubes anchored to your foundation footing; ideal for established homes with accessible footings
Helical Piers:
Screw-in piers with rotating blades for deep soil penetration; perfect for lighter structures, new construction, or limited-access sites
What pier installation solves:
Immediate halt to foundation settlement
Potential to lift the structure back toward level
Minimal disruption to landscaping or interior
Long-term, transferable warranty protection

Crawl Space Support Jacks:

Permanent Support for Sagging Floors

Soft, bouncy, or uneven floors above a crawl space need an engineered solution. DBS Repair installs the SmartJack® System, a heavy-duty adjustable steel support post designed for long-term floor stability even in weak soils.

How SmartJack® installation works:
Compacted engineered fill and a pre-cast concrete footing are placed beneath each jack location
Steel posts are mounted against the crawl space girder
Posts are adjusted to lift sagging floors back toward level
The system remains adjustable for fine-tuning after installation
To protect your repair long-term, DBS Repair recommends:
Crawl space encapsulation:
heavy-duty plastic liner seals out ground moisture
Vent sealing:
Prevents humid outside air from entering the crawl space
Interior drainage systems:
Channels water away before it reaches wood framing
Mold remediation:
Removes existing mold before it spreads further

Bowing Wall Repair:

Straighten and Stabilize Before It’s Too Late

A bowing foundation wall won’t fix itself. The longer it moves, the fewer options you have. DBS Repair installs proven, trusted systems to stop inward movement and restore wall strength.

Wall Anchor System
Steel anchors are buried in stable soil outside your foundation
Connected to interior wall plates via galvanized steel rods
Tightening the rods over time can gradually straighten the wall
Permanent stabilization without full excavation

PowerBrace™ Wall System

Heavy-duty I-beam system installed against the interior wall
Stops inward movement immediately upon installation
Allows for gradual straightening over time without exterior digging
Ideal for homes with adjacent driveways, structures, or tight lots


✅ DBS Repair Tip: The earlier a bowing wall is addressed, the higher the chance of full straightening. Walls that have moved more than 2″ are harder and more costly to correct.

Sunken Slab Repair:

Lift and Level Without Full Replacement

A sinking concrete floor in a Minnesota home, garage, cabin, or lake property doesn’t always mean a full tear-out. DBS Repair uses two minimally invasive methods to lift, stabilize, and level settled slabs. Repairing concrete costs much less than the cost to replace concrete.

Slab Pier System
A small core hole is drilled through the slab
A bracket is placed beneath, and steel tubes are hydraulically driven to stable soil
The slab is lifted and locked into position permanently
Ideal for heavily settled floors connected to the foundation
PolyLevel® Foam Injection
High-density expanding foam is injected beneath the slab
Fills voids, compacts weak soil, and raises the concrete from below
Holes are dime-sized, virtually invisible after patching
Fast curing time, area can be used within hours

Thumbs Up forIntegrity

Got a Cabin, Lake Home, or Boat House in Minnesota? We Repair Those Too!

Foundation Repair
Homeowner Reviews

your neighbors are talking about us…

DBS Repair has been repairing foundations across
Minnesota and Wisconsin, from Duluth to Eau Claire,
for nearly 15 years! See what your neighbors have
been saying about DBS Repair’s
foundation repair services in their homes.

DW Laukka
1 day ago
June 24, 2026 Trevor, with DBS foundation, base and insulation, just completed work on my Madeline Island Cottage on Lake Superior. The work, included Excavation, shoring and replacement supports in the Crawl Space of this 1940 Lake home. I was pleased with the technology at DBS uses, and the knowledge and technical proficiency that Trevor had in doing the work. He was thorough, and listen ed carefully to my concerns. I was absolutely 100% satisfied with his work and that of his assistant Corbin. If you are in need of foundation repair in Minnesota and Wisconsin, I highly recommend DBS. Donald W Laukka, architect.
Matt
2 weeks ago
I recently had DBS perform warranty work on foundation piers for a cabin boathouse. The crew was incredible. Their work was top notch. The foreman, Trevor, was particularly impressive. Highly skilled, outstanding attention to detail, and very customer focused. He also took the time to communicate and teach his younger crew. A true leader in every sense. DBS... be sure to reward employees like Trevor; people like him are difficult to find!
Blaire Babbitt
1 month ago
We can NOT thank DBS enough for all their hard work. Lawson and Bryce started our home foundation project. Both were kind, courteous, and professional. The next part of the job was lead by Trevor and Wayne. Both of these guys were excellent too. My husband and I are amazed at how much work they got done in the time they were under my home.Trevor was great at letting us know where they were at and what they were doing just to keep us updated. We are so thankful for their hard work and now feel more secure in our home. Our entire process with DBS from start to finish was excellent and we are so glad we chose them to help fix our home. Shoutout Beverly for aslo assiting me during this process. THANK YOU DBS.
Sara Arndt
2 months ago
DBS did a great job. James was great figuring out my problem, dip in the floor. I have an old house and the beam had begun to rot. Trevor and a couple other gentlemen were out to do the work. They were all real polite and explained the process. Trevor also pointed out some fun facts about my house. If I need anything else done I would for sure trust them to do the work. Didn't leave a mess which was also appreciated.
Sally Roth
2 months ago
Estimate with Myke from DBS on foundation work was very helpful and thorough! I learned a lot!
Alex Zacholski
3 months ago
Myke Connelly was great to work with and I truly know that we will be in great hands with DBS moving forward. He was thorough and patient with the many questions we had about what was happening with our foundation project and would certainly suggest everyone in need of reinforcement solutions for your foundation meet with and work with their company. Thank you Myke and thank you DBS!
Andy Britz
3 months ago
Met with Myke, one of the estimators. He did a fantastic job going through the options for my foundation repair and was very thorough with the details of the products and procedures of the bid. Highly recommend.
Dean Funk
8 months ago
Justin was very thorough doing our estimate. Jared and Cameron were an absolute joy to work with. They are tenacious and skilled workers. They patiently explained each step when we asked questions . The results of our foundation lift with push piers exceeded our expections.
Photo from customer reviewPhoto from customer review
Jay Hartzer
10 months ago
Super impressed with the entire process. Mike made the initial inspection and explained the best method of repair for the cabin foundation in Hayward WI. The installation was performed by Trevor, Travis and Joe. These guys were hard workers. Came in, explained the process, kept me informed and were able to finish the same day. They even cleaned up the job site before leaving. Great attitude even at the end of the day. The completed project exceeded my expectations.

Schedule your free
Foundation Repair Inspection

Service Area Lookup

Find Your Service Area

Enter your ZIP code to see which service page is right for your area.

DBS service area map for Minnesota DBS service area map for Wisconsin